If you are not familiar with Dr. Cooper's name, it was he who published a small book on exercise, "Aerobics" back in 1968. This was back when no one really thought very much about exercise except professional athletes and kooks. Not only did the concept only exist among athletes and a few researchers, but the word "aerobics" itself was new to the vocabulary.
At a time when many health professionals thought that exercise could actually be dangerous, Dr. Cooper began his research into the subject while an Air Force officer. What he learned, and has promoted for the last half century, has changed the lives and attitudes of individuals and even nations.
It was my accidental discovery of a copy of his book in a bookstore, and my participation in his aerobics program, which really propelled me into a lifelong pursuit of knowledge about health, fitness, and, eventually, aging and longevity.
I recommend a visit to his website for anyone interested in exercise, fitness, or just health in general.
On his site, for example, he lists the following 5 tips for aging gracefully.
Here are Dr. Cooper's 5 tips for aging gracefully, with my comments.
1. See a physician: Whatever your health is, or what you want it to be, knowing the facts and getting the assistance of cutting edge, and constantly developing, medical technology and knowledge is of prime importance. You can get a lot of this from your physician. Additionally, your physician can often spot developing conditions and help head them off.
2. Exercise regularly: It is best to create the habit of regular exercise as early in life as possible, but even starting in your 90's can still give you many of the health benefits of exercise. Check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
3. Eat properly: A balanced diet of low fat, low sodium and adequate protein and carbohydrates is important in prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes and other medical conditions, many of which are often assumed to be aga-related "facts of life". Not so. Proper nutrition, in fact, becomes even more important for seniors as it can help fend off so many illnesses and age-related health problems.
4. Fight off memory loss and mental deterioration: Many studies have found that conditions of diminished mental abilities and dementia can stem from many sources. The good news is that regular exercise, proper nutrition, mental challenges and activity, and social interaction are just a few ways to keep mentally fit.
5. Enjoy your old age: I was talking with a young friend the other day. He has had a deformity since birth, a twisted and withered arm. His attitude was summed up as "it's not what you've got, but what you do with it". Sure, there are many things that change as you age, but many of the changes are at least somewhat controllable, as mentioned above. The big point is that you can lock yourself away from the world and feel bad about "growing old", or you can get out there and enjoy life in whatever ways you can.
I was interested to notice, as I read the article on Dr. Cooper's website, how closely his points matched those in my article published online back in October, 2007, "What Can You Do to Reverse Aging".
It's not just a matter of great minds following the same idea, or of the student following the master. It doesn't matter whether someone is a Doctor who has one of the largest and most respected research facilities in the world, or is a retired army sergeant, ex-truck driver, and fitness nut, if they look at the results of study after study, they will come to the conclusion that aging gracefully is actually a pretty simple task.
It's your choice.
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FIT OVER 40
Labels: aerobics, aging gracefully, kenneth cooper
Source: http://fitness-after-40.blogspot.com/2011/05/5-tips-for-aging-gracefully.html
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